Electric sign



i ious obj'e'ctionto such signsisthat the illumi;

or translucent lettersrilluminate'd by lightshin-i- Patented June lZ 1930i ToNAwnNnA; NEWYOB,

' ELECTRIC fsreiv" I Application fil ed Ap ril" 3 0,

E This invention relates to improvements in GlGQtIlO SlgllS of the general type wherein the lettering is'so produced 'upon a1hoardor fpanel;; a s; to be conspicuously legible in the 1 daytin e1and at night iseXteriOrlyillumi-" nated. byjexposed electric lamps provided at building," at an elevation such as'ito compel observance by personspassing onthestreet. fAriserious objection'to such signs as here-- 1' tofore constructed is that at night, regard-' less of the illumination, the lettering is legibleonlyfor a small'part of-the full distance iIijWhichthe image would be clear, under I suitablelight conditions, to a person of riormalvision. In other wordswhile the display of-light may be vbrilliant'the light is not used e'fiectivelylfor the proper illumination ofythe let'tersland; except for the comparatively small "distance referred to the lettering cannotbe read although the sign-can be seen asfan" area y fr l hth j c i s g r etedv n' j. the case of single face signs vvhich'are set'flat 1 against their] supporting; ,yvalls "and; are 1' viewed at an angle to the pefpendicular hy the approaching observer. furtherb'ser-r nation isnot uniform but is characterized by V bright and dull areas 'vvhichjid'etract from the :legibility Z and also from-the appearance of provide a signof thetypedescrihedin which the above stated objections are-overcome and l" the l'etteringlis' clearlyi-legible'at night,- equal-i 3 s 1y; sin jthe daytime, for the ifull tdistanceaof htfi' therange of normal vision, and-isuniformly illuminatedthroughout its" area. 1111 carrying -out; this; object I- also' attain'js everal: other '7 important advantages, namely, the-elieot 0f th ug m ';x-th e b et rsstah r 1 7 ing out inirelief against the]backgroundwith defined, giving a much clearer and sharper:

I L fimag'eth-an cangbe obtained in anycasefwith pared With constructions "heretofore ,employedgi andiane'i-ltirely adequate illun i'na 1; I l iof theet rs with s bs e l' iel yfsm le prior constructions;

' sign in Which the lettersare speciallyformed faces, uniformly distribute'd yth'roughoutthe: I I areas of th lettersatrvarying angleseneolnfv t a ed in the ac ompany ng drn n Qscalepta ortion'ofonejofthe liettersgaind ani I Th principal object of the invention isto.

i hang thefstreetl 6r are 7 set at against t j bear l rs'is iand i rwise fin s' edElsi V s e e zp ef ab y:dark;fiep id ys u ble a theiedges of their strokes sharply andclea'rly' at night by lamps l-vvhieh may-have any suit;

- Roy} R. wInEY,, oF serum, NEW YORK, =Ass1G1 vo1tro FLEXIQUME CORPORATION, or

- K,.A CORPORATIQNOFV'NEWXOBK re eg bility k nilt d ytime com 55% l mpsthanjspermissibleinethe 5f number, of l wi th v obiwf i d a vantae s Vi w nr ti n ons st jge er ly' r T h p v H 6o;lf.*" and suitablyfin-i'shed'to .intercept'the -rays} from the bordering lamps and to reflectthem fronra multiplicity ofclosely adjacent 7 sur j.

65- P ss ng t warr n lines of, vi w f m'a y poi t-within thei-ifullrrangeof normal vision i L of o r app o h n: a y di e t T inventionialsogfconsistsyin thefconstruci P tion of theflettersi. themselves for'the pnr 7o; poses indicated andflin,"variousdetailsQof structureand relation which Willbes'tfforthf -1 sth deser pt ntpr e d 1 c -A e me if t, inventi i us-4. 75w 1 a I which 1 {F gu e 1iis ian"elevationiofjthel sign-5 *Flgure. 2 ea os 5 tionhil eil ne zai g adia e t o t en P s 7 i r,,, r il lle ece S ew-W i heir suppt irtingf Wal background against vvhich letters a i be 'easi'lylread; Theflle terS ja s-i luminate able arrangement beyond thefieldoftheletfjioo L rounding border 2.

tering but as shown are mounted on a sur- The board 1 may be of any suitable construction and of any suitable'material. .It is preferably and as shown constructed of metal and is incorporated in a flat shallow casing, said board being double walled in the caseof a double face sign. The border 2 is also preferably hollow so as to enclose the wiring for the lamps 4c; and by suitable selection of the exterior finish of said border halation effects may be so minimized as to bevirtu ally unnoticeable.

The letters 3 may be of any suitable 1ma. terial but are preferably of metalrand are preferably formed separately from the board 1 to which they are attached in any suitable manner.

. The letters 3, according tothe invention, are formedwith a multiplicity of closely adbutwhich maybe spherical and'are preferably'of substantially the dimensions shown in Figs. 8 and 4 of the drawing as filed, that is to say approximately of an inch in diameter atthe base, and are arranged in close or substantially immediate mutual adjacency uniformly throughout the areas of thewletters with the angles or theirsurfaces ,to the perpendicular preferably,- in order to obtain the best results, substantially withina range of 30 to 40 degrees. In the 'production of the letters they are preferably cut from asheet and then operated on to form the projections 5, these being continued up to the margins V of theletters whereby the letter margins are regular in plan but are sinuous or scalloped in side elevation. By virtue of this charac teristic of marginal form small shadows will be cast. on the background directly adjacent the margins as shownin Fig. 3 and" thereby when the sign is illuminated the margins of the letters stand out with extreme sharpness v "and clearriess and arelief effect isproduced,

thatis to say, to the observer the letters, when illuminatedyseem to be raised in relief from.

the background of'the supporting board lr The letters may be attached to the board 1 inany suitable manner. In the construction "shown theyare attached by screws 7 having heads 8 which conform exactly in outline,

* dimensions and finish to the projections 5 and in a normal view of the sign are indistinguishable in appearance from said projections. In connection with the attachment of the letters in this manner the sheet may be formed at suitable intervals with blanks, that is to say, surfaces from which the projections 5 are omitted and the screws 7 are threaded through such blanks, their heads 8 taking the place of the projections 5 which would other-. wise have been provided. The letters have a suitable reflecting finish which may result either as an incident of the particular material of which the letters are composed or which may be specially obtained by suitable treatment. Preferably the letters have a finish approximating the color and sheen of gold.-

Instead of having the projections 5 on" the obverseside of the letters as shown they may be on the reverse'side in which case the obverse side will have a series of cup-like depressions constituted by the inner sides of the projections and a series ofsmall interstitial flat surfaces; the depressions,

having the same angles and finish asthe PI'O'.

j ections 5, will function in the same way, and

the flat surfaces will function in the same way as the flat surfacesfi. The rays from the lamps t'strike all of the projections 5 and flat surfaces 6, the lamps being so arranged with reference to the angles of the surfaces of the projections 5 that the in cident light rays, even at considerably varying angles, are reflected to the eye of the observer within the. limits of accommodation given by the. warped reflecting surfaces. This is true as to any position taken by the observer in viewing the :sign because the angles of reflection are both downward and lateral and, due to the quality of the warped i.

surfaces in selecting the-tangential reflecting planes, will coinclde with or encompass the lines of vis on at which the sign may be viewed from both remote and nearer points.

The? rays so reflected form comparatively narrow angles with and below the horizontal at the remoter points with their angles to the horizontal increasing withthe approach of the observer toward the sign. on a still nearera'pproach to the sign the flat surfaces (iconic-into effect and make the letters legible or contribute to this result. The angles of incidence ofthe rays onthe fiat surfaces 6 are considerably wider than the'angles of the rays on the pro ect ons 5 and consequently the angles of-reflection fromthe surfaces from-the surfaces '6 form much wider angles wlth and below the horizontal than the rays from the projections 5 and give effective illumination o'fthe letters when the observer is close to the sign. In this way the projections 5 and'fiat surfaces 6 provide for .the effective illumination and display of the letters at all points within the full range of 'are correspondingly wider so that the rays beri-and arrangement of lampscan, of course; bevaried as circumstances may requireand ua rdance with. the dimensions. of the j sign; :The fiat. surfaces; 6, in aidditionito "th e eflectsdescribed; also aid materially in "reflectingdaylight, especially When the'in Jclaim: f 3 41) V H g f boa-rd provided. withintegral letters formed".

' 'visionfof'an approaching-observer: v in ad ditiion tol the? effects described thefiapices of jthe I projections whichginaiiy case. are

I slightlyi rounded presentv sharpll and com-v an illuminating "range of" Vision. The letters by virtue'of the reflective characteristics -.described and ."ot their sharp marginal outlines, are unixfor'mly and brilliantly illuminated and are jclearly legible and readable at a distance 9 from the sign several times greater vthan v "thedistan'ceat hich thelettersfoffthesigns of ;1the"-type described as heretofore conj ,structed can be vread. "It is moreover .prae

'1 jtica'l in obtaining theaboye important effects tofreduce the numberof lampsemployed as Thus the drawing illustrates a sign having "thdword Drugs in letters which may he compared With i the" prior constructions.

' iassumedtobe ten inches high With a stroke approxiinately twoincheswide and, for the illumination of these letters with the attainmerit of the advantages and efiectsabove described, goodresultsjcan be secured with the.

useof but fourlamps of suitable power, one. "lanlpfbelhg arranged at the center oI each sideof the rectangular-bordeia. The nume cident trays approach the. horizontal.

' I-laying fully describedmy invention 1. An electricsign comprisinga displayi -from individual metal sheets and exposed] I 1 flanipsflocated beyond the field of the letters 7 {and byfwhichthey may be illuminatedythe uniformly distributedlettersmi having I g g throughout their areas in niediatelyiadjacent it interstitial flat surfaces to intercept light zvvide a contrasting background againstwhich :theletterls,inayjb'iread;'

board *proyided'with integrallletters formed substantially;mceni I v g g stitial fflattsurfac' f paratiyelysniall or'r ninute areas of high light i f ocurring-regularly throughout the 'area of the lettering and producing I I V conformingtotheivaryinglines of vision at efi'ect observable vtirtually throughout the i horizontlali andfsai'd' fiat surfaces 'rejflecting strokes: t an 1etters}being r colored to" pro; r

thehletters may fa'cfesto intercept'light rays-fi o sailamps 'through'ie ran b z ngles confo m ngato th surfaceslreflectingtheraysatflnarrowlangles 11' e' m w the hori ontal andsai fiat re which areitherebyisinuous,or scallopedin sec;

ma be read if ately a'dj'afcent' s mmetrically15 iarpedgin 1 115-7; symmetrically Warped inclined surfaces and rays fron said lamps andjtoreflectsaid'rays jin"alldirections througha range of angles confor'rningito the varying lines fof vision" Fat which the 'sign maybe "viewedi fro' in'different pointsgsaicl inclined surfaces reflect ing' the, rays; at "narrow angles to; and below; the horizontal and ,saidr flat surfacesreflect .in'gtheirays 'at Wider'angles below the hori' i *z n e j e dis lay: betel b yon lik 1 str ol esbof 'saidiletters being-colored to pr 2, {Anflctrictsigh comprising a {display 1; L

the letters havingmnimmy distributed throughout -theirlareaimmediately adjae surfaces and V e tiTHg it r y 1 1 reffiecti'saidray ing' h a ranger-pf; angles" 1 g -from said T amps all directionsthrong whichathe sign may 1 hewyiewed fron .diffe I i ent points, saidjconical surfacesrefiecting he-rays at' narrow gang'lesg toand belowlthe the raysat Wider angles JoeloWfth'e':hori pntatd sthe d sp ay,i a deb y nd,t

vide'acontrastingbackground against which,

-31 An- ,r cv sign comprising;a' display pl v i with g ters n l po ed, lamps located jbeyonda' theafieljd iof the letters and by" which they: I may: he'g'illu n-inated, the letters havingiinifornilydistributed thr011gl1'{ but ftheirfjareaimmediately]adjacent'substan tiallyc'onict 1 surfaces and ijnterstitialflaJZS l F Varying linesofvision at whiehxtjhesign may]; i be viewefcl 'from' difirent'points,inclined fiee ne z ys W diQr QI g S bQ-H: lbw?thehorizontal themargins of said letters 1 g 1 {1 eing ofjieg ular"Outline-and;thes-conicalsurg i faces being;continuedmup toj isaidji marginsf, H 106' 7 tion,and thejclisplaygboardbeyondthe strokes 0f said let e svbeing-ace oredtO-p ovide ajeon tra i igl ackgn undagainst:whiqhthe letters,

l i e r' i ie :7 ,.spr s neeii siilf oard provided: .With attached f inetal letters 1a it i and expose dined is 'rfa e'six i d: iin r' f t e rfflfiei f" 'nniforinly?distributed5 throughout; their areas Y lto int f i iit' ghtfrdy iifremlse d" amp d tozrfi'ect' saideraysiinallfdire ctio'nsi hroug p ont rmi gtd.th 'fv ry h id iH li d exterior '7 tiplicity of substantially conical surfaces and warped inclined surfaces of said letters to interstitial flat surfaces uniformly distributed throughout its area, said conical surfaces beingin immediate adjacency, the letter having .a regular margin and the conical surfaces eX- 1 complete a uniform warped inclined sur In testimony where tending to said marginwhich thereby has a Y flat surfaces being available to intercept light rays andto reflect them through angles'having a range conforming to the lines of vision 'p'osed lamps arranged about theborder of y said displayboard, and a "unitary' letter formed from a single sheet of metal and adapted tobe secured to said board, said letv sinuous or scalloped section, said conical and An electric sign comprising-a display ter having uniformly'distributed throughout J its area immediately adjacent symmetrically warped inclined surfaces and interstitial flat surfaces to intercept light rays from said lamps and to reflect said rays in all directions 7 through a'range ofangles conforming to the varying lines of vision at which the sign may be viewed from different points, said inclined surfaces reflecting the rays at narrow angles 7 to and below the horizontal and said flat surfaces reflecting the rays at wider angles below the'horizontal and the display board beyond the strokes of said letter being colored to provide a contrasting background against which V the letter may be read, the margins of said letters belng 'letterbeing of a regular outline and the conical surfaces being continued up to said margins which are thereby sinuous insection, the

raised'portions'of the said margins being adapted to produce shadows upon said background and to thereby provide a'letter of c sharp outline with ar'e'lief effect. p

a 7. 'An electric sign COIHPIlSlIlg-ZL display boardprovided with letters and exposed lamps located beyondthe field of the letters I i V and by which they may be illuminated, the

sheets and having uniformly distributed throughoutftheir areas immediately adjacent formed from individual metal I s mmetrically warped inclined. Surfaces and p V,

interstitial fiat surfaces to intercept light rays 7 from said lamps and to reflectsaid rays, in all directionsthrough a rangeof angles conwhich the sign'm'ay be viewed from different points, said :inclined surfaces {reflecting the forming to the varying lines of vision at rays at narrow-iangles to and below thehori surfaces reflecting the. I 1

rays ati wid'er angles below thejthorizontal,g; 1 I and the display boardbeyondthe strokes of said letters beingcoloredlto provide a'contjrasting. background 'agains t eiwhich the let- .ters'mayberead, and means for securing said f letters to said background,-said means having V r the same surface characteristics as said letters and being adapted toJcoOperate' with the fpattern of spaced apart 

